Ellie nodded through sniffles as the urge to cry began to fade.

New dresses and finery? It all sounded grand to Ellie. The fact that she had yet to tell her family about this change in fortune, occurred to her. She would have to do that, though she probably shouldn't wear this lovely dress in the Cragg. She would hate for it to get dirty. Her plain black dress would be fine for that. What would her family say?

"It sounds wonderful, Ma-" Ellie stopped herself from using the formality she was so accustomed to. She knew her place, as the maid, but with Christine's generosity, there was the danger of forgetting, and Ellie dared not do that.